Potting Basil

Potted basil takes up little room but delivers an abundant harvest.

Basil lends its aromatic flavor to soups and sauces and brings out the best flavor in tomato-based recipes. The small, bushy herb also grows well in pots, making it a useful choice for a small outdoor container garden or for an indoor herb garden. You can grow pots of basil indoors or prolong the life of outdoor plants by bringing them inside before cool winter temperatures kill them.

Planting

Basil doesn't require a large pot. An 8-inch-diameter pot comfortably holds one plant, or you can grow several plants in a 23-inch-diameter or larger container. Pots must contain a bottom drainage hole because basil can't tolerate soggy soil. Standard potting soil amended with a balanced granular fertilizer provides enough nutrients for basil since the plant requires only minimal soil nutrition. Basil seeds germinate readily within seven days when sown in 65 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer temperatures, so it's possible to start the seeds directly in the prepared pot. The soil must be kept moist or the seeds may not sprout or early seedling growth may be affected.

Indoor Care

Indoor basil plants can thrive at any time of year. The plant's require a sunny, warm location to produce the most flavorful foliage, so a south-facing window makes an excellent place for a basil pot. If the home lacks a suitable window or doesn't receive enough light in the winter, fluorescent grow lights can supply supplemental lighting. Use these lights for at least 12 hours a day if no natural sunlight is available. Indoor basil requires weekly watering so the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. The plants can produce reliably for several months with enough light and moisture.

Outdoor Care

Outdoor plants often require more frequent watering since the soil dries out more quickly in small pots. Checking soil moisture daily ensures the basil is watered as soon as the top inch of soil becomes dry. Potted basil can grow indoors until spring temperatures rise above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The plants can't tolerate frost, so you must bring them indoors if a late frost occurs. Like indoor basil, outdoor plants also require full sunlight. They can tolerate some light shade during the hottest part of the year if the soil is drying too quickly or the plants are wilting.

Harvest

Frequent harvesting encourages basil to continue producing. You can harvest the plants as soon as they reach about 6 inches high and produce at least six sets of leaves. Simply pinch off the stems above a leaf set, leaving at least the bottom foliage on the plant to continue growing. Once basil flowers, the foliage loses its flavor and the plants begin to decline. Harvesting often and pinching off any flower buds that appear prolongs the productiveness of the basil.

About the Author

Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington's specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.